Free Up Disk Space on Windows: Hibernation, Storage Sense & Cleanup Guide

Quick Answers

Common questions answered at a glance

What is causing my disk space to become full?

Windows builds up files over time: temp files generated by applications, cached Windows Update files, old restore point files, files left over from previous installations, and the hibernation file. While most of these files are safe to remove, the largest single file that is normally removed is usually the hibernation file, which is equal to the amount of RAM in your computer.

What is the hibernation file?

Should I disable the hibernation file?

Yes, you should disable hibernation on a desktop computer. Desktop computers do not need hibernate mode because they are always connected to a power source. Once you disable the hibernation file, it will be removed immediately. Laptop computers are different, though. While disabling hibernate on a laptop will remove the file, it's worth thinking about how you want to handle things. The hibernation file can be a safety net for laptops. If your battery dies while you are working on something, the hibernation file can save your work to disk so you won't lose it.

What is Storage Sense?

How much space can I recover?

You can recover space equal to the amount of RAM in your computer (8-32GB) by disabling the hibernation file. Cleaning up temp files and cached Windows Update files will typically recover an additional 500MB-2GB of space. Using Storage Sense will prevent future build-up of junk files. Depending on how long it has been since you cleaned up your disk, you can recover anywhere from 1GB to 35GB of space.

Your SSD is running out of room — and you're not even sure where it's coming from. You haven't added any apps or tools recently, yet there isn't enough room on your SSD for anything else. The problem is likely the same thing every time: Windows has been accumulating all sorts of junk files over time. Temp files created by applications, Windows Update cache files, old restore point files, and one other file that most users have no idea exists — the hibernation file.The hibernation file will take up as much space as your RAM. If you have 16GB of RAM, you'll have 16GB of a file taking up space on your SSD (unless you actually use the hibernate mode). In addition to those files, Windows also stores temp files created during application usage, cached Windows Update files, and sometimes leftover files from previous installations. You could lose 500MB to 2GB of usable space from those three types of files alone.

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This tutorial will show you what is consuming your disk space, how to recover the space safely, and how to keep your disk clean moving forward through the use of Storage Sense. No technical mumbo-jumbo. Clear and concise explanations and actual file sizes.

Files that take up space

Temporary files. Each program you run generates temporary files. Browsers cache images and scripts. Windows caches data for its own internal processes. Application installers leave behind files once the installation process is completed. These files will continue to pile up month after month and year after year until you realize how much space they are taking up.Cached Windows Updates. Before applying an update, Windows will download the updated files. Once the update has been applied, the older versions of the updated files will remain on your disk. As you go through multiple update cycles, you'll end up with several gigabytes of files.Hibernation file. This is the largest space-consuming file that most users don't know about. As Ty Sherback at XDA Developers explains, hibernation is a legacy feature that most desktop users simply don't need — and disabling it is one of the easiest ways to free up gigabytes of disk space instantly. The file will always exist if you have hibernation enabled, regardless of whether you use the hibernate mode or not. If you have 16GB of RAM, you'll have a 16GB file just sitting on your SSD that is only being held for the hibernate mode.Old restore points. Restore points are snapshots of your system files taken by Windows prior to making significant changes. Over time, the number of restore points increases and each one takes up disk space.Uninstalled installation files. When you uninstall an application, the configuration files, cached data, and temporary files are not always removed. Those files can remain on your computer. As How-To Geek's Shan Abdul documents, Windows itself has several features that silently eat up your storage over time — including cached updates, delivery optimization files, and previous Windows installations that can linger for weeks after a major update.

What is hibernate mode?

Sleep mode. A computer in sleep mode remains in a low-power state. The RAM remains active so that everything loads quickly when you wake the computer. However, if the power is lost, everything in the RAM is lost.Hibernate mode. Hibernate mode puts the computer into a deep sleep. Everything in the RAM is written to a file on the SSD (hiberfil.sys), and then the computer turns off. When you start the computer back up, it uses that file to resume exactly where you left off. Hibernate mode is slower than sleep mode, but it can survive a complete loss of power.Size of the hibernate file. The size of the hibernation file is equivalent to the amount of RAM. 8GB of RAM = 8GB file. 16GB of RAM = 16GB file. 32GB of RAM = 32GB file. A 16GB hibernation file on a 256GB SSD is approximately 6.25% of the total capacity of your SSD.

How do I disable hibernate mode?

1. Right-click the Start button and select “Terminal (Admin)” or “Windows PowerShell (Admin).”2. Type: powercfg -h off and hit Enter.3. The hibernation file will be deleted immediately. There is no need to reboot.To enable again: Open PowerShell as Administrator and type: powercfg -h on

How do I use Storage Sense?

1. Open the Settings window by pressing Windows + I.2. Click on System.3. Click on Storage.4. Turn on the Storage Sense toggle.5. Click on “Configure Storage Sense or run it now” for additional options.

Common problems

“Didn't delete hibernation file.” Make sure you ran the command as Administrator. Try restarting your computer and trying again if the issue persists.“Storage Sense deleted important files.” Turn off the downloads folder cleanup option. Put important files in a permanent location instead of putting them in the downloads folder.“Didn't get more space back after cleanup.” The biggest area of savings is usually the hibernation file. Check Settings → System → Storage for a breakdown of what is using your space.“Cannot re-enable hibernate.” Open PowerShell as Administrator. After enabling again, check the Power Options to see if hibernate is visible in the Start Menu.We started IQON because we noticed that people who needed the most help were getting the worst information. Everyone deserves access to the information and resources they need, whether or not they use our app.

Free Up Disk Space on Windows: Hibernation, Storage Sense & Cleanup Guide

Quick Answers

Files that take up space

What is hibernate mode?

How do I disable hibernate mode?

How do I use Storage Sense?

Common problems

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